Marin nets winner as AEK Athens seal vital win over LASK in UCL opener

[p]The home side made a fast start as they created their first big chance with only three minutes on the clock when a through ball found [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jovic-luka/viIS0FT7/"]Luka Jovic[/a] inside the area, with the striker’s snapshot inadvertently saved by the head of goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jungwirth-lukas/Uge8hnYd/"]Lukas Jungwirth[/a].[/p][p]LASK were happy to play on the counter-attack, and their first effort saw [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bogarde-melayro/0K5btK3O/"]Melayro Bogarde[/a]’s strike from 25 yards - which was heading for the right corner - saved by Alberto Brignolo.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aek/ANpZncAM/"]AEK[/a] were appearing in this stage of the UCL for the first time since 2018-19, and the hosts were able to make up for lost time in some style as they took the lead with 21 minutes played.[/p][p]Razvan Marin’s free-kick from the left of the area flew over the wall and into the top right corner to give the Double-Headed Eagle the lead.[/p][p]The impressive hosts ought to have doubled their advantage with the final act of the first half when Marin was picked out unmarked from a free-kick; however, his header from close range went into the ground and looped over the bar.[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="8e4243fd-b5e9-4b41-93d4-aff339ad7a78" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="13030781-c7fe-46c0-b2ba-243929a609c9" original-width="3840" original-height="2160" /][p]LASK knew improvement was needed in the second half, and they could have drawn themselves level less than four minutes after the restart when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/horvath-sascha/hWws1LOE/"]Sascha Horvath[/a] advanced into the area, but his shot was well saved low down by Brignolo.[/p][p]This looked like being a costly miss for the visitors when Jovic found the net with a header just after the hour mark, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR check.[/p][p]It was a nervy conclusion for the home fans, with their team unable to give themselves some breathing space. The reigning Greek champions did manage to successfully negotiate the closing stages to make a winning return to the UCL, however.[/p][p]LASK have now lost their last nine away matches in European competition, with the result seeing a Greek side triumph over Austrian opposition for the very first time in European Cup/UCL history, as the Black-Whites’ first top-flight European game in over 60 years ended in disappointment.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marin-razvan/WYOcFAQk/"]Razvan Marin[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aek/ANpZncAM/"]AEK Athens[/a])[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/aek-athens-ANpZncAM/lask-MipWYeKQ/summary/stats/?mid=EgODGq9F"]Check out all the match stats with Flashscore.[/a][/p][infobox id="45e615b0-e521-49e0-bf3c-9fb2423b8bed" /]